Friday Update
October 10, 2000

PREVIOUSLY ON AMC

Erica to Bianca: "You can't quit school -- I mean, that's completely out of the question!"

Leo to Greenlee: "I will not let you kill what just happened between us, Greenlee." Greenlee: Oh, get over yourself. Take no for an answer."

Eliot to Brooke: "I am the man who killed your daughter."

Arlene: "Just one drink. I mean, what harm can one drink do?" She suddenly doubles over in pain.

COMMUNITY CENTER

Eliot walks out of one back room and past Rain and Bianca into the next room, carrying a box of something. He flashes back to Brooke's reaction to his revelation that he's the man that killed her daughter. Becca interrupts his reverie, calling him Reverend Freeman and asking about Grace's whereabouts. Loathing himself, he turns his head down and slightly around to her and, in a hoarse voice, tells her never to call him that again.

Meanwhile, back at the desk Bianca tells Rain that what she (Rain) does with her life is her own business. Rain says what she does with her life is hit people up for spare change. [I'm surprised that she still hasn't hit BIANCA up for spare change] Still considering the color of her parachute, Bianca asks if she makes any money at it. Rain bemoans that most of the time she's invisible. On a GOOD day, she makes enough to get a couple of burgers. She's traveling with the other kids in the room because it's safer that way. She and her friends hopped a freight train in Akron and she woke up in PV. Bianca asks if her family knows she's there. Rain says her mom had kicked her out and never wants to see her again. Bianca suggests calling her to work things out. Rain doesn't think so and she changes the subject, asking about Bianca's story. Bianca looks down in embarrassment.

In the back room, Becca is confused. His name is Reverand Freeman and that's what she's always called him. He turns and apologizes for barking at her. She guesses he's having a bad day and he agrees. She asks if she can help and he tells her she can help him pack these boxes -- he's clearing out [and apparently looting the Community Center in the process]. She's shocked. He says Reverend Taylor will make the announcement later -- he's leaving the Church of the Good Shepard/Child Killing Drunk Drivers and Pine Valley. She asks why and he says his work there is done. She asks him not to go -- she'll miss him. She always enjoyed their talks and they meant a lot to her. He says he's a hypocrite and has no right to counsel her or anyone else. She doesn't understand -- he's the best preacher in the WORLD! Every Sunday she sees him standing in the pulpit and she can just SEE God FLOWING through him! He apologizes for misleading her -- he's not the man she thinks he is. Ever since he's come back to PV he's been living a lie. Becca: "Come BACK? I didn't know you lived in PV before." He says there's a lot about her she doesn't know. Eliot: "The truth is --" They are interrupted by the sound of Erica's voice in the other room: "Oh, THERE you are!" Becca begs off and runs into the outer room.

Bianca disdainfully asks Erica what she's doing there. Erica says she might ask HER the same thing! Bianca is pissed and sits rigidly in the chair, telling Erica they they can catch up later at home. Erica says they need to talk, NOW! She asks Rain to excuse them and walks about 5' away (but only 2-3 feet from Becca and Eliot) and tells Bianca that she has some explaining to do. The headmistress of the Chadwick School called and told Erica that after the interview, Bianca just got up and left! Bianca says the headmistress is like a THOUSAND years old and the school was built in the Jurassic period by a bunch of dinosaurs [so the scientists are right -- dinosaurs really WERE a lot smarter than we thought!], and she wasn't going to hang around for some lame tour. Erica says the school has an excellent reputation and Bianca suggests that ERICA can go there, then. She tosses a worried/embarrassed look over her shoulder at Rain. Erica wants to know how she ended up at the shelter. Bianca wants to know what's wrong with THAT? Erica says that, for one thing, it's run by Brooke English [BWAHAHAHAAA!!] Bianca: "Well, at least she's done something USEFUL with her life!" Erica: "What's THAT supposed to mean?" Bianca challenges her with: "It means that she's given the world something more than kiss-proof lipstick." Erica is hurt and looks away to compose herself, then once again demands to know what she's doing there. Becca jumps into the fray and says SHE brought Bianca there. Erica demands to know why, but Bianca takes over asking Erica to leave because she's EMBARRASSING her! [If I had EVER talked to my mother the way Bianca talks to her mother -- well, I don't even KNOW what would have happened, because we never DARED to try, but I'm pretty sure pain would have been involved! At the very LEAST, a dirty flyswatter (which my mother constantly threatened my sister and I with, but she never actually used it on us -- the thought of dead fly guts touching us was MORE then enough to make us do or stop doing something!]

Becca rubs Bianca's back and arm as Erica says they should finish this discussion at home [isn't that what Bianca wanted in the first place?] Erica starts to leave, and Bianca says they have nothing to discuss. Erica says she didn't know where Bianca WAS! Bianca says she did what Erica asked -- she went to the interview, but it just didn't work out. Erica: "And why NOT?" Bianca: "Because it's what YOU want. *I* want to quit school and find a job." Erica says that's just not acceptable. Bianca gets mad and snaps: "You don't GET a vote! It's MY life." Erica refuses to continue the conversation there where they have no privacy. Bianca again asks what's wrong with the place. Erica tells her to look around -- she doesn't belong there, she belongs in SCHOOL. Bianca gets even snottier and says: "How do you know? Did it ever occur to you that since daddy died, I feel completely homeless?" Erica cannot believe what she's hearing and finds several ways to tell Bianca that she doesn't realize what a good life she really has and how fortunate she is. Bianca: "Mom, why DON'T I feel fortunate and why DON'T I feel blessed?" [Because you're a sheltered, spoiled brat?] Eliot attempts to mediate, saying: "Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt, b--" Erica gives him a talk-to-the-hand gesture and says: "DON'T interrupt then! There's nothing wrong here." Eliot: "Listen, if there's a problem--" At that moment, Jack slams the door open and says he thinks there IS a problem! He just came from the police station and had heard that Eliot was the drunk driver who killed Brooke English's daughter. Is that true? Eliot nods and says it's true -- he killed Brooke's little girl. Jack punches him in the face harder than he's ever punched anyone in his life. As Eliot roles on the ground, Jack stares at him like he's a maggot who sells crack to baby maggots at the local maggot pre-school.

Becca rushes to the fallen preacher and asks if he's okay, still calling him Reverend Freeman. Jack corrects her -- his name is Josh Waleski, former PV police officer, but that's not his only claim to fame, is it, JOSH? Jeliot, his mouth bleeding, turns to Becca and says he TOLD her he used to live there. He made a terrible mistake. Jack sneers that her made a terrible mistake? He KILLED Brooke's daughter and he wants to know why he came BACK here! Jack orders him to answer him and launches himself at Jeliot again. This time Erica jumps in and holds Jack back. She turns to Jeliot and says: "Oh my God! Brooke! How could you do that? How could you be so HEARTLESS?" Jeliot gives guilty-but-standing-my-ground looks to Erica and Becca.

More kids have come into the room and some are eating as they watch the drama unfolding. Jack again demands to know why he came back here. Jeliot says he came back because he had no place else to go -- he could not live with himself or find any peace. Jack: "You poor thing -- do you think you DESERVE it?" Jeliot says he doesn't know -- maybe he's beyond forgiveness, in Brooke's eyes, anyway. Jack sneers that he's like those losers that go on trashy talk shows, who whine and moan about their misery, but it's really about HIM, isn't it, and how much HE'S suffered! And then he comes back to town and tries to use Brooke like tissue to wipe his tears. That's NOT going to happen! He came back her for NOTHING, and there's NOTHING her for him! Jeliot says he just came down there to get his stuff and then he's leaving town and won't be coming back. He turns to go into the other room, but it stopped by Brooke's voice saying his name (the Eliot one). [This happens AFTER the Brooke scenes below]

BROOKES HOUSE

Brooke is sitting tensely at the bottom of her stairs and Edmund is crouching down next to her. He gently says: "Eliot is the cop who killed Laura?" Brooke, spits out that is name isn't "Eliot", it's JOSH. Waleski. He reminds her that she saw Josh before he went to prison -- how could she forget what he looks like? [He's asking her these things in an accusatory way, IMO] She walks into the living room and tells him of the beating and rearranged face, plastic surgery, etc. Edmund asks about the voice and she bends over the arm of a chair, breaking down into tears, saying that his voice is the SAME and his EYES were the same and she just missed it ALL. She BETRAYED her! Edmund, the Pulitzer Prize winning writer summons his keen journalistic instincts and asks: "Who?" She sinks to the floor in anguish and says: "My God, how blind could I BE? The man looked me in the FACE, and I reached out to him! I fell in love with the man who killed my daughter! What does that make me?" [Consistent?] Edmund, looking haggard, but not particularly interested, stares at her and takes a deep breath.

Brooke can't sit still for more than 3 seconds and gets up and walks away from Edmund. Brooke: "God! History repeats itself! I mean, all the fiascos that I've had with Adam and Tad, Pierce [she manages not to crack up at the thought of the 3 faces of Pierce] -- I never thought I could sink as low as I did with [the 2 faces of] Jim Thomasen, child pornographer, but, boy, I really reached rock bottom! I fell in love with the man who -- who killed my little girl! No place to go but up!" Edmund gets up, his beleaguered knees creaking, and tells her to knock it off -- it's not her fault! She screams that she BETRAYED HER DAUGHTER!!! He walks over to touch her. She rages: "When Tom told me that Laura was dead, I -- the only thing that kept me going was the RAGE! I just wanted to KILL somebody! I wanted to HURT somebody! I wanted to hurt that -- that drunken BASTARD who took my sweet little girl away from me! I just -- I wanted him to feel my emptiness and my despair, and I knew that there was no way he would ever come CLOSE to knowing what I felt, and that's what made me hate him even more! He was the last person to see her alive in that split second--" She breaks down again and launches herself into Edmund's arms, crying inconsolably as he holds and pets and rocks her.

She breaks away, saying life has been good to her -- the birth of her son Jamie, adopting Laura -- she counts her blessings, but there is always the one who was taken away from her. She misses Laura every day of her life. She walks away yet again and sits down. Edmund mentally thanks himself for not squatting this time and says that the pain of losing someone that you love never goes away. Hopefully you can find a place to put that pain so you can get on with the rest of your life. She says she never found that place. He says Eliot came back and sought her out for a reason. Brooke bitterly says: "To make a FOOL of me!" Now she looks hard and pissed. Edmund sits down next to her [he'll regret that, since she's sure to pop up and trot across the room again] and says maybe Eliot coming back to PV to help her is really a blessing in disguise.

[This is a strage conversation that follows. It pretty disjointed] Brooke fails to see how finding out that Eliot killed her daughter can be a blessing. He says there has to be a reason. Brooke: "Was there a reason that my daughter was killed by some rotten drunk? Is Josh Waleski back in town -- what is that? Is that part B of God's master plan?" He tells her to leave God out of it. He says that maybe Eliot doesn't even know why he came back. She says he wanted her forgiveness. Edmund asks why he took so long. She says it's because he's still the same COWARD he was when he decided to get behind the wheel of a car when he'd been DRINKING! Edmund says maybe he sensed she wasn't ready to forgive him. She snorts that he's got THAT right! And while they are on the subject of forgiveness, has he forgiven Dimitri? Edmund gets icy and says they were talking about HER, not HIM. She gets up and walks away [AGAIN] and tells him he really doesn't have to talk her down from the ledge [is THAT what he was doing. Frankly, I would have pushed her off long before now! These 2 seem to be constantly saying all the wrong things to each other (in my mind), yet it's being played as being all the right things to say to each other -- horseshit!] She says she'll be all right and he agrees. He tells her not to misunderstand -- she doesn't owe this guy a damn thing. In a flat voice, Brooke says: "Oh, what, I owe it to myself, right? It's time to move on. It's time to let go." She breaks down again and says: "What if I can't?" Edmund: "What if you COULD?" Having waited as long a possible, he finally gets up off the couch, his knee cracking so loud that the sound ricochets around the room. Edmund: "Brooke, what if you could just look at this guy right in the eye. You look at Eliot right in the eye, and you see not a monster, not the man who murdered your daughter, but just a man -- just a man that's begging for forgiveness. What if you could feel compassion or pity or anything but just this hate that is eating you up inside? Wouldn't that be a blessing?" He puckers his lips and plasters them to the back of her hair and leaves them that way for about 30 seconds [making me wonder if he's trying to filter out lice or maybe he's stuck to her hairspray] Then he says: "I am on your side, always. Call me if you need me." He walks out, leaving her standing there staring off into space. [Was this supposed to be a good thing? Why would anyone leave someone in Brooke's emotional state just standing there? Not that he's being particularly helpful, mind you, but still ...] To his credit, he does at least look at her one more time before closing the door.

CHANDLER LIVING ROOM

Vanessa brings in a tray of Lucretia's decaffeinated tea for Arlene, who is now lying curled up on the other end of the couch, hugging the heating pad. Arlene worries that she might have told Lucretia about the cramping and Vanessa assures her that the day she confides in the staff will NEVER be on her social calendar and never WILL be. Why, doesn't the staff know she's pregnant? Vanessa is about to sip her tea when Arlene says that, on the contrary, Winnie was with her when she took her pregnancy test -- has Vanessa ever tried p--going in a cup while the maid was watching? Vanessa sets her cup down with a clatter and says she's totally missed THAT particular domestic experience. She picks it right up again, though as the two "socialites" sit on the couch and stare ahead. Arlene grimly says that if she (Winnie) found out, she'd blab it all over the place. Vanessa says a little is discomfort is normal during any pregnancy. Arlene says she's not a kid any more. Vanessa says women these days are having babies well into their 40s. Arlene says she's not a Madonna, either. Vanessa asks how it happened. Arlene asks if she wants the details and they laugh. Vanessa means was it PLANNED, because if it was, it was a sheer stroke of GENIUS! Arlene says it was an accident and Vanessa purrs that it can be VERY useful!

Vanessa asks how is Adam taking it. Arlene: "Like the bottom fell out of the stock market. But he'll change. He'll come around." Vanessa points out that he'll HAVE to -- she's carrying the baby of one of the richest men in America. Arlene: "The child of the man I LOVE." Vanessa tells her that that tired old "love match" story just isn't going to fly. They all know Adam married her as a deterrent to his family and friends. Arlene says that may have been true in the beginning, but things have changed. Vanessa is under the impression that he still wants her out of there. Arlene says he's going to let her stay until the baby is born. She has 7 months to convince him that he can't live without her OR the baby. Vanessa says she has her work cut out for her. The door slams and Adam strides in, a man with a mission. He bellows for Arlene. Arlene hides the heating pad under a pillow [what about the cord?] and she and Vanessa both stand. Vanessa congratulates Adam on their state of infanticipating. He asks for some privacy to talk to Arlene. Vanessa says she'll go to the kitchen to talk to Lucretia -- she has a recipe for Palmer -- his favorite from the Hollow, although it's terribly difficult to find a whole hog these days. Adam turns to stare at her, pressing his lips together to keep from saying something he shouldn't. She leaves for the kitchen.

Arlene babbles about Lucretia fixing them something to eat and tries to rush out. [I notice that the stairs on the left appear to dead-end at the wall] Adam says that he spoke to Hayley, who told him they Arlene refused to let her and Mateo adopt her child. Arlene: "OUR child." She knows how devoted he is to his children and he wouldn't want to have someone else raise their baby. He says he's thinking about what's best for the child. Arlene crinkles her eyes and earnestly says: "What's best for the child is US." He tells her that's NOT going to happen. He really seems to be trying to take her feelings into account, but is firm. She looks bewildered as he says he's NEVER loved her and never WILL love her -- he never stopped loving Liza. Arlene, ever hopeful, says he's never given himself the CHANCE to love her. He waves hand in front of her and says NO. His future is with Liza and Colby -- they're going to be a family again. She gets angry and asks if he's going back on his word and kicking her out. He says he'll honor his promise and let her stay. She scoffs at the idea of Liza moving in and taking over the house -- Liza hates her GUTS and it would be bad for the baby. Adam informs her that she'll have the run of the house -- he's moving in with Liza. Arlene stares at him in shock.

[Over the last few days I've wondered about the logistics of all of this watching-Arlene-so-she-won't-drink scenarios. Hayley says they'll have to watch her every minute, so it's best to keep her there in the house. Everyone says someone should be hired to watch her 24 hours a day. If they are going to hire someone, what's the point of keeping her at the house? I'm thinking Hayley and Mateo might move in with Arlene to watch her. Talk about a TENSE situation! I don't know if I could take 7 months of Hayley's constant, sanctimonious harping at Arlene!]

Arlene panics and says Adam can't walk out and leave her alone there. He assures her that she won't be alone -- the staff will be there and he's going to hire a live-in nurse to "monitor" her pregnancy. She wants HIM to take care of her, not a spy! He tries to explain that she's already threatened to drink and the nurse will just be there to help her so she won't accidentally hurt the baby. She continues to plead and he says he's going to take full responsibility for the baby -- he's already drawn up a trust fund for it. Arlene: "No, she needs more. She needs more than financial security. Adam. she needs a daddy who loves her and treats her like a princess." Adam: "Arlene, face it. that's what YOU need. He tries to make her see that they BOTH married for the wrong reasons. Frustrated, she says that he got what HE wanted, Liza, but what did SHE get out of it? He says she got a second chance to hold a baby in her arms, to put ITS needs first -- to do what's right. Arlene: "What the baby needs is US!" He says no, what the baby needs is Hayley and Mateo. Arlene sits back, making a very Dixie-like face in an attempt to maintain her cool under tremendous stress. She thinks the baby means NOTHING to him. Adam: "No, it means a great deal. But not to us. There is no US. He hands her an envelope containing the divorce papers for her to sign. She doesn't want to sign them. He tells her it's a VERY fair and more-than-generous settlement, and to have her lawyers look it over. She gamely agrees, but then loses her composure again. He starts to say that if she wants more money -- she's broken-hearted and exclaims that it's not ABOUT the money! She falls to her knees and puts her head in his lap, looking hopefully up at him. Couldn't he find even one little part about her that he could love?

He sits there grim-faced with his arms crossed and she sits back, saying that this doesn't hurt him a bit, does it? He's relieved, isn't he? She says she's not like Liza -- she doesn't have class or style or anything. He tells her not to do this to herself. She tells him not to pretend to care for her. Nothing has changed since that night in Chicago all those years ago when they made love and made Hayley. Arlene would look at him and fantasize that he would wake up and ask her what she was going to do for the rest of her life. In reality, he slapped a $20 on the nightstand for her cab fare. He says that was a long time ago. "Not for me", she says. He says he's sorry, but she says she's not -- he kept her company through a lot of sad and lonely nights. She tells him that, on their WORST day, she would NEVER have hurt him the way Liza has. She gets up and grimaces slightly in pain, briefly holding her belly, then turning away from Adam as she reminds him of all the ways Liza has humiliated him over the last year, including putting him in an insane asylum. And who got him OUT of the padded cell, hmmmm? He says that what Liza did to him pales in comparison with what he did to HER. Arlene can't believe they're just going to forgive each other, just like that. He tells her that that's what people who love each other DO! Adam: "Liza and I understand each other. We're the same person. And I won't lose that again!"

Arlene gets mad -- he thinks he knows who she is when he looks at her. Then he looks at Liza and thinks she's perfection -- well no one is perfect, not even his beautiful blonde ice queen! Liza is pure evil! Did Adam see the way Liza reacted when she found out Arlene was pregnant? He points out that she dropped a bomb on her. Arlene: "She THREATENED me, Adam!" Adam: "You have a TALENT for bringing that out in people!" Adam gives up. He picks the discarded divorce papers off the floor and slaps them into her hand, telling her to have their lawyers talk to each other. He starts to walk out. Arlene moans out his name and chases him, BEGGING him to give her another chance. She'll make him so happy and the baby will bring them together! Adam is still being unusually gentle and caring as he tells her he'll send someone t pick up his things. He walks out. Arlene sits down and cries piteously.

Vanessa walks back into the living room and finds Arlene sitting in the chair crying and holding her belly. Vanessa offers her a handkerchief and notes that these are probably not tears of joy. Arlene looks up, frightened, and says she needs a doctor -- something's wrong with the baby! She begs Vanessa to help -- to call Seaview Hospital. Vanessa wonders why they can't go to PV, but Arlene says it HAS to be Seaview, RIGHT NOW! Vanessa relents and goes to call them and then take Arlene there right away. Arlene continues to cry and look frightened.

PINE CONE MOTEL

RYAN'S LOFT

She asks what he's doing there. He asked her first. She asks what he wants. Leo: "Answers. REAL ones would be nice." She wants him to stay away from her. He doesn't believe her -- they just made love like there's no tomorrow. She says it was mind-bending, basically meaningless sex. Leo yells at her to "SHUT- -- UP!!! He was THERE. Why is she doing this? Why is she LYING? Greenlee: "You think I want what you want -- you're wrong." He asks about her rummaging through the desk and she says she was looking for a pen to write Ryan a note. He says she trashed his loft and got him arrested -- he thinks Ryan gets the point. She says that having sex with Leo made her realize that she's still hung up on Ryan, so Leo should cut them both a break and forget about her.

Leo tells Greenlee that he doesn't believe a word she just said. He wants her to tell him what's going on. Greenlee turns around and tells him to get out of there and stop following her around like a lovesick puppy. She's clearly in a lot of frightened pain, but he can't see her face. He says if she can't be straight with her, he'll have to give her a lie detector test. She tells him to get away from her, but he grabs her hard and kisses her HARD, holding her face. He says she's shaking -- she's scared of something, and it's not HIM. What is it? He reminds her that every time she's ever needed anything he's come through for her, right? She nods. He can tell that she's sitting on something BIG, and whatever it is, she doesn't want him in on it. But he's in her life and she is in his, and that's the way it's going to be. She keeps her lips buttoned, her eyes big and stares ahead like she's a British soldier outside the gates of Buckingham Palace. He shakes her and she just moves with the shakes. He begs her to tell him what's going on. Her eyes dart back and forth and her mouth starts to open as she waivers. Suddenly a shot rings out. She screams and they both fall to the floor. Leo is clearly knocked unconscious. She falls draped across him, and it's not clear if she's been hit, too. The camera pans over to the window, with shattered glass spider-webbing out from the bullet hole in the center.

ON THE NEXT AMC

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Arlene calls Liza at the studio: "Liza, don't hang up. I have something very important to tell you. I think you need to listen to me!"

Greenlee shakes an unconscious Leo and begs him: "Leo, Leo, don't go away! Please! Come on, Leo!"

Brooke to Jeliot at the Community Center: "Don't you dare walk away from me now!"

Irreverently submitted,

Robin "gotta go!" Coutellier